MANITOBA SHEEP ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER
www.mbsheep.com
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Welcome
We're pleased to provide you with our first electronic version of Sheep Sense. This electronic format will enable us to share important industry information and MSA activities quickly and cost effectively. Please feel free to forward it onto your fellow sheep producers and / or those involved in the industry. Please encourage them to Join our Mailing list! |
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Annual General Meeting Held March 4th - Portage la Prairie
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70 plus producers joined the board of directors for the annual general meeting this spring. The new board was introduced as well as Corie Arbuckle who has been brought on to assist our Association. Arbuckle has an extensive background in both agriculture and communications and has many clients including: Manitoba Forage Council, Canadian Forage & Grassland Association, Manitoba Zero Tillage Research Association, Ag Canada, MAFRI, Manitoba Grass Fed Beef
 | | L: Lucien Lesage, Virginia Fox, Neil Versavel, Corie Arbuckle, Herman Bouw, Henry Nelson, Sarah Lewis (missing Pat Smith). |
, and the Manitoba Forage Marketers. "Our members were shown the new website which will be used as a key communication piece," said Lucien Lesage, Chair. "The home page of the site is updated frequently, directing everyone to important industry info, coming events and basically what's new in the sheep industry. As well, an e-newsletter has been created and will be distributed quarterly. All important information or events will be communicated quickly, efficiently and cost effectively through this system."
Our guest speaker was extremely well received. Dr. Chris Clark, Veterinarian from the University of Saskatchewan provided the attendees with insight into abortion and parasite prevention and treatment. To read a brief review of his presentation download the PDF and/or go to our website to see both of Dr. Clark's power point presentations.
 Many thanks to Mamoon Rashid, our MAFRI representative for his assistance and the Growing Forward Program - Food Safety Initiative for their support.
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Industry Questions - Tags, Check-off, Membership & More
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"Since joining the MSA I've received a number of calls regarding tagging requirements, check off, membership, where one can find shearers and breeders and where one can buy lamb," says Corie Arbuckle, Communications Manager. "As a result, I've posted this important info on the new website and have listed the answers here in this newsletter as a quick reference."
Check off
In 2003, following a successful referendum, the Manitoba Sheep Association was designated as the official organization representing sheep producers in Manitoba and thus allowed to levy a mandatory but refundable check-off. The check off fee has not been increased since then and is used each year by the Board to engage in activities to promote the Manitoba Sheep Industry.
Membership
A member in good standing is a producer who has purchased sheep tags and has not requested a check off refund in the past year. To become a member of MSA you must purchase your government tags from the Canadian Cooperative Wool Growers, the business licensed to sell tags in the Prairies, and thereby pay a check off fee of $1 per animal. The new national identification tags are yellow, have a 9 digit sequence and have a radio frequency identification chip (RFID) for traceability.
Tagging Regulations
All animals leaving property of birth for any reason whatsoever, be it a show, a vet, sale or slaughter, must have a radio frequency identification tag as of Jan 1, 2013. Until Dec 31, 2012, animals with pink government tags may still be sold and transported the same as with a RFID tag. After Dec 31, 2012, animals have to be re-tagged next to the old tag with a new RFID if leaving the property. It is illegal to remove old tags as those numbers are already registered for traceability. Auction marts may re-tag animals if tags have been lost in transit, however, they cannot tag an entire flock. Producers, truckers and auction marts can be fined up to $10,000 depending on the severity of the violation. For more information go to www.mbsheep.com
Premise Identification Number
Manitoba Agriculture is helping producers get their Premise Identification Number (PID) in place for their legal livestock operations. At some point in the future it will become mandatory to produce these numbers when ordering tags. Producers who do not have a PID, need to contact David Hunt at the Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (204) 945-8380 and apply for it.
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Recent Activities of the MSA
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New website
The new website is updated weekly (sometimes daily) and is a quick and easy way to see the latest issues and events happening in the industry. On the home page, the Key Industry Information section shows the most current industry issues, and the What's New in the sidebar on the right highlights upcoming events, projects, scholarships etc.
Other key items on the site are our Resources section. There is a section dedicated to new producers and commercial producers providing links to sites with information they can use.
Our classified continues to be very popular, promoting items for sale and items wanted.
e-newsletter - as you can see this our new e-newsletter. In the past MAFRI has printed and distributed our 16 page + newsletter to over 400 producers. This is a considerable expense and it is unclear how long MAFRI can continue to provide this service. As well, timeliness is an issue. This process enables us to communicate all industry information quickly.
 Royal Winter Fair - Director Sarah Lewis contributed over 7days of her time to update our
MSA display booth, showcase her sheep and offer shearing demonstrations this March. The show as always is extremely popular and this was no exception.
Show & Sale Planning - The committee for the Show & Sale (Neil Versavel, Corie Arbuckle and Sarah Lewis) is ramping up for our premier annual event. Read more in our sidebar.
Advertising Policy - a new policy has been developed to help the MSA develop a firmer financial footing. By implementing an advertising policy and generating funds we hope to provide further seminars and bring in high profile speakers for our events. Read more.
Upcoming meeting with Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn - April 30, 2012 - regarding existing and future regulations affecting the growth of the industry.
Meeting with Manitoba Agriculture Services Corporation held March 12, 2012 - see below.
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MSA Goals for the Year
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 Improved Communication - new website,
e-newsletter and frequent e-mails to
members and the industry regarding issues that impact us all. Set up of office with dedicated MSA phone line, and database tracking of tag purchases.
Sheep Breeders The importance of good breeding stock in Manitoba cannot be overstated. The MSA is committed to the promotion of selection of quality genetics to improve our flocks and expand the flock size. The Show and Sale is an annual event which showcases excellent stock and provides an opportunity for producers to select rams or ewes to improve their flock. We would also like to increase the visibility of our breeders (purebred and commercial) and will promote them at every opportunity we can. All breeders that we are aware of are listed on our website. If you are selling replacement animals and are not listed please contact us. Members of the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association will be identified -- please let us know if you are current member so we can note this on the site.
Sheep Shearers - the MSA would like to increase the number of shearers and promote them in our communications as this is a fundamental part of the industry. Training has occurred in the past, however, a survey will be implemented to determine what Shearers want when they go to a farm and what producers want when the shearer comes to their farm. Shearers & producers, please submit your name to help us with the survey. Contact us.
(204) 421-9434.
Ongoing communication with Manitoba Agriculture Services Corporation - see next story.
Continued communication with the Minister of Agriculture - flock expansion, predator control, border crossing, etc.
West Hawk Border (Manitoba - Ontario Border) - the threat of a foreign animal disease in any species has the potential to seriously disrupt the live MB sheep market as it exists today. The MSA is communicating this issue with the provincial and federal governments as well as with other provincial sheep organizations, Keystone Agricultural Producers and the Canadian Sheep Federation.
Seminars - bring in beneficial speakers at our events.
Participation at agriculture events: Royal Winter Fair, Ag Adventures at Glenlea, Red River Ex, Show & Sale.
Support of projects - verbal or financial.
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Meeting with the Manitoba Agriculture Services Corp
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Lucien Lesage and Henry Nelson met with the board and senior management of Manitoba Agriculture Services Corporation on March 12, 2012. A number of important items are on the table and our position was clearly communicated to them and we are looking forward to working with them to address the following:
Livestock options for sheep: MASC is currently working with beef producers on a price insurance program similar to an Alberta program and with hog producers on a disease insurance program for pigs. We indicated that we would like to work with them to establish priorities for insurance programs sheep.
Predator insurance program:
MSA discussed concern over the requirement of a carcass in order to provide confirmation of lamb loss. MASC is developing a producer declaration system to address this issue. Also we noted that lamb values and breeding stock are too low. Manitoba auction prices do not reflect the value of breeding animals. MASC agreed to review the valuation method for breeding stock and indicated that the request for higher lamb values has been forwarded to the MAFRI wildlife damage compensation review committee. MASC will review the valuation method for sheep breeding stock for the predator compensation program.
Lending programs for sheep: MASC gave MSA an overview of the lending programs available for sheep producers. MSA indicated that programs such as stocker loans for cattle should be available to sheep producers. We requested that MASC also use higher values for sheep breeding stock when evaluating loan applications from sheep producers.
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Preparing your Sheep for the Shearer
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 Communication is the key to a successful operation. Both parties should agree on the shearing start time and be on time.
Often shearers are told they have 60 sheep at one farm, only to find when that the producer has 80 plus the neighbours have brought over another 30 and another neighbour is bringing over another 20. This can quickly snowball out of control and can result in an unhappy shearer, client and the future clients who are waiting for the same shearer to arrive at their farm later that day. Producers should provide an accurate number of sheep so the shearer knows what to expect and how long he will be at your farm.
Advantages to shearing your sheep: easier for lambs to access the ewe's udder, sheep take up less space, sheep are more comfortable (dryer and cooler in summer), wool quality is better when sheared regularly (at least once per year), helps with parasite control, and condition scoring and vaccinations are easier. The barn will also have lower humidity, making it better for both the sheep and the handlers.
How to prepare your operation for the shearer:
- Have your sheep dry
- Have them penned in an adjacent area, ready to be sheared
- Have a clean, dry area ready for the shearer to work
- Electrical outlet - ensure the outlet has the amperage suited to the shearer's equipment
- Have staff on hand to feed the shearer the sheep or have a system in place so the shearer can move the animals through quickly. Have someone picking up the wool.
Wool Preparation
The Canadian Wool Growers have put together these guidelines to help you prepare your wool and achieve higher financial returns. Download the PDF.
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| MSA Supports Project on Heat Synchronization | 
The MSA has contributed $250 towards a project being led by Dr. David Barrett, Associate Professor, Nova Scotia Agricultural College. His project is on the development of a new heat synchronization treatment for breeding ewes out of season.
The objective of the study is to compare two heat synchronization protocols on the induction of heat and pregnancy and lambing rates in seasonally anestrous ewes. This project will result in practical knowledge of CIDR®-Estrogen-Folligon®treatment
on ovarian function, an pregnancy and lambing rates in out of season ewes so that the longer range impacts of this treatment regime on overall flock reproductive performance and lamb production can be predicted.
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hat - a Sheep Meadow In Central Park, New York City?
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by: Corie Arbuckle
 Yep, hard to believe I know but a recent stroll through Central Park in Manhattan with my husband this St. Paddy's Day showed it to be very, very true. Although not inhabited in March, it appears that this Sheep Meadow is fully functional and compete with a phone line to call in and find more information about the sheep who live here. Central Park as you may know is a park that is comprised of 80 acres of walking paths, ponds, (skating rinks in winter), a mini zoo, and is graced with horse driven carriages and mounted NY Police Officers. 
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Ontario Sheep suspected of Scrapie - Gone Missing
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The Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency, Ontario Goat, along with the Canadian Sheep Federation, Canadian Sheep Breeders Association and the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association, would like to express their collective concern over the 41 missing Shropshire sheep slated to be destroyed and tested for scrapie. (A flock of 41 Shropshire sheep were removed from a farm that is currently under a CFIA quarantine order. The sheep were allegedly taken from the barn sometime during the evening of April 1 by an organization identifying itself as the Farmer's Peace Corps). Currently, the Ontario Provincial Police is investigating. Read letter sent to Media etc. on April 5, 2012. Letter to Editor
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Sheep Industry Seminar - May 24, 2012
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 Join us for our next Seminar: Topic: Understanding the Lamb Market When: May 24th, 2012 (4:00 PM) Where: Swan River Go Centre, 120-6th Ave N Speaker: Mamoon Rashid, Sheep & Goat Specialist (MAFRI) Registration: Free (Pre-registration preferred) Contact Swan River GO Office for Details, Phone: (204) 734-3417 EMAIL: Kathleen.walsh@gov.mb.ca |
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Contact Us
| Manitoba Sheep Association
63 Clearwater Road
Winnipeg, MB
R2J 2T4
p: (204) 421-9434
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Show & Sale
August 17th & 18th
Rivers, MB
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Mark your calendars for this year's Show & Sale! This year's sale will be all about top quality sheep! Sheep will arrive on Friday and the show will be on Saturday morning followed by the sale in the afternoon.
The event will be open to both purebred rams/ewes and commercial ewes. We will once again have market lamb and jackpot ewe lamb classes. New for this year - hair sheep classes for both Dorper and Katadhin breeders.
Download the rules & regulations here. Applications will be available within the month on our website. The deadline for entries is July 15th so we can develop the catalogue and promote your animals to potential buyers.
Show & Sale Flyer
Advertisers: $250 per year also gets you a booth and in the catalogue for the Show & Sale (and on the website and future e-newsletters).
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| MJ Millar Ranch |  |
Suffolk, Dorset, Rambouillet, Texel, Commercial
Are you looking for top performing sheep for your commercial operation? Do you want to avoid bringing infectious diseases into your flock? Would you like a source of uniform groups in numbers from 1 to 500+ head capable of producing quality lambs on a pasture based or confinement system? The breeding flock at MJ Millar Ranch Inc is made up of animals that have been selected and bred for superior genetics and performance. Emphasis is placed on breeding animals that are above average representatives of their respective breeds enabling our customers to ship more lambs to market. We are breeding 1200 ewes for the 2012 season giving our customers a large selection of top quality replacement stock.
We also have available a good selection of commercial Suffolk and Dorset ram lambs that will produce fast growing vigorous lambs.
Contact: Mitch at MJ Millar Ranch Inc., Lundar, MB (204) 280-0822, mitch@mjmillarranch.com, www.mjmillarranch.com
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| Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited |  | |
Catering to Sheep Producers
We carry a complete line of agricultural supplies such as:
- Gallagher Power Fencing
- Animal Health Products
- Sheepskin Products
- Processed Wool
- Handling Equipment
- Shearing Supplies
- Lambing Supplies
- Wool Sacks
- Government approved RFID tags
Ask Us for your free Catalogue
Prompt payment for Wool on Delivery
Transportation Assistance Available
1- 800-567-3693
Lethbridge, Alberta
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| Advertise with us! |  | |
Want your business featured on our website and e-newsletter?
$250 per year gives you to top placement on our website, in our newsletter and enables you to promote your business at our Show & Sale and AGM.
Contact Corie for more info.
Selling Lamb?
If you sell provincially inspected lamb and can provide a certificate to prove this please send us your details. The $250 posted above will provide you with a direct link to our customers. The MSA is regularly contacted by consumers who want to know where they can purchase lamb. Contact MSA.
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